Rising number of 3-4 defenses has impact on 2010 DE prospects

Tony Ding / Associated Press

Michigan's Brandon Graham has an impressive work ethic and was the Wolverines' MVP last season.

Editor's note: This is part of a weekly series detailing the top senior prospects, by position, for the 2010 NFL Draft.

More and more, NFL teams are looking for linemen who can thrive in a 3-4 defense. In 2001, only one team played a 3-4 scheme. In 2007, 10-plus teams played the 3-4 as one of their defenses. In 2009, the figure will jump again. The Kansas City Chiefs are among the teams that will make the switch.

For Kansas City, Glenn Dorsey, the fifth overall pick in 2008 as a defensive tackle, will switch to end. Tamba Hali, who was a first-round pick in 2006 as a defensive end, will move to linebacker in 2009.

The 10 teams that played in the last five Super Bowls have had very good defensive lines with lots of sacks. Only two of the 10 had less than 40 sacks (Colts in 2006 and Cardinals in 2008). The last two winners (Giants in 2007, and Steelers in 2008) each have had 50-plus sacks during the regular season.

For defensive ends, size is needed on the strong-side, while speed is the key trait on the weak-side.

To win games, teams must be able to stop the run and pressure the passer, which helps defensive backs play well. Defensive ends that can apply pressure from the quarterback's blind side are a real asset.

1. Greg Hardy College: Mississippi Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 262 Hardy started nine times as a true freshman in 2006, joined the basketball team after the 2006 football season and played in 15 games. He scored six points against Florida in the SEC tournament. He has 21.5 sacks over the past three years. He can be a very good NFL player, if he plays hard every down. He has the size, speed and athletic ability needed to be great. He will be a first-round pick in the draft. His father played at Mississippi.

2. Corey Wootton College: Northwestern Height/Weight: 6-6, 278 Wootton is a fifth-year player, who played and started in 2005 as a true freshman. He was injured in the fourth game and was given a medical redshirt year. He was first-team All-Big Ten in 2008 when he had 10 sacks. He has great size and speed for the position. He is a very athletic player, who will be a first-round pick. He has tremendous upside and should be a very good NFL player.

3. Brandon Lang College: Troy Height/Weight: 6-3½, 255 Lang is a four-year player, who went to prep school out of high school. He originally signed with Georgia. He made first-team All-Southland Conference in 2008 and had 11.5 sacks. He missed most of 2007 with knee surgery. Lang has numbers (sacks and tackles for loss) similar to the ones DeMarcus Ware and Osi Umenyiora had at Troy. Lang is a very talented player that has speed, quickness, toughness and strength. He is a possible first-round pick, if he has a good senior year.

4. Jerry Hughes College: TCU Height/Weight: 6-1¾, 255 Hughes played as a true freshman at TCU after being an outstanding running back in high school. He has been a three-year starter at defensive end. He had 15 sacks in 2008, including four vs. BYU. He has great quickness coming out of his stance, to go with his 4.7 speed in the 40-yard dash. He also has good strength to stop running plays and had 17 tackles behind the line. He was a first-team All-Mountain West player in 2008 after forcing six fumbles and two interceptions. He is a possible 3-4 linebacker.

5. Brandon Graham College: Michigan Height/Weight: 6-0¾, 275 Graham played as a true freshman at Michigan in 2006. He's an outstanding athlete from Detroit who played basketball and ran track in high school. He has started 16 games and made 19 sacks in career. He was voted MVP of the 2008 team and was second-team All-Big Ten. He has outstanding speed and quickness for his position, which complements how hard he plays every down.

6. Jermaine Cunningham College: Florida Height/Weight: 6-3, 250 Cunningham played as a true freshman in 2006. He has started 26 games over the past two years and has 11.5 sacks over that time. In 2007 vs. LSU, he was credited with 17 tackles. He has quickness and speed to rush the passer. Cunningham works hard and his best position might be a 3-4 linebacker.

7. Erik Lorig College: Stanford Height/Weight: 6-3½, 255 Lorig came to Stanford in 2005 as a tight end, before moving to defensive end in 2007 and starting eight games. He started 12 games at defensive end last season. He is a very talented player, with good athletic ability. If he has the speed, he might be a 3-4 end player. He is a very interesting talent, who scouts will spend a lot of time on.

8. George Selvie College: South Florida Height/Weight: 6-3½, 245 Selvie is a fifth-year player, who has started 37 games the past three seasons. He played injured in 2008 (bad ankle) and has 25.5 sacks and 64 tackles for loss in his career. The overachiever came to school as a center. He has strength and a burst when rushing the passer. Selvie has enough speed to play the 3-4 position, but I'm not sure he can play in space. He is a great person. Note: A Buick rolled off a car jack and onto his head as an infant. He still has a dent in his head from the accident.

9. James Ruffin College: Northern Iowa Height/Weight: 6-3¾, 265 Ruffin is a fifth-year player, who has started 35 games. He had 10 sacks in 2008, is very athletic and is a good pass rusher. He plays the run well and has a non-stop motor. Ruffin was named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches last season.

10. Willie Young College: N.C. State Height/Weight: 6-4½, 240 Young is a fifth-year player, who went to prep school out of high school. He will have started five or more games over the past three years. Young had 12 sacks over the past two seasons and needs to add weight to play defensive end. He has the frame and speed to add weight. A very good athlete, his best fit might be a 3-4 outside linebacker. He is a Willie McGinest look-a-like.

11. Lindsey Witten College: Connecticut Height/Weight: 6-4¼, 250 Witten is a four-year player, whose older brother Donte Whitner starts for Buffalo. He started six games as a true freshman and had five sacks in 2008. He is a pass rusher with edge speed, but needs more strength.

12. Lawrence Wilson College: Ohio State Height/Weight: 6-3, 268 Wilson is a fifth-year player, who missed 2007 with a broken leg. He is athletic and played tight end in high school. He was also a standout basketball player (at the same school as LeBron James). Wilson is a strong, tough and smart player. Speed looks to be good.

13. Greg Middleton College: Indiana Height/Weight: 6-3, 280 Middleton played as a true freshman in 2006. He was a first-team All-Big Ten in 2007 when he led the nation with 16 sacks -- the fourth-most in Big Ten history in a single season. Middleton struggled in 2008 as he was double-teamed a lot and was suspended for the Western Kentucky game. He is a better pass rusher, but is not real good in the run game. While Middleton has some ability, he needs to work better on every down.

14. Antonio Coleman College: Auburn Height/Weight: 6-1, 252 Coleman is a fifth-year player and was first-team All-SEC in 2008. He is athletic enough to play 3-4 linebacker in the NFL. Coleman is strong, plays hard every play and has good quickness. He is willing to put in the work, but at what position?

15. Auston English College: Oklahoma Height/Weight: 6-3, 257 English played as a true freshman in 2005, but redshirted in 2006. Despite missing three games with an injury, he was first-team All-Big 12 in 2007 with 9.5 sacks. He added 4.5 sacks in 2008 while struggling with an injury. English played running back and end in high school, running for 1,800 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior. He goes all-out on every play and has the quickness and speed to rush the passer. He is athletic enough to play in space and his best position may be as a 3-4 linebacker.

16. Eric Moncur College: Miami Height/Weight: 6-2, 255 Moncur is a sixth-year player, who missed most of last season with due to injury and was awarded another year. He is a good pass rusher, who might project to be a 3-4 linebacker. Moncur did well in 2007 with 5.5 sacks and has the requisite talent to merit close watching.

17. Koa Misi College: Utah Height/Weight: 6-2¼, 255 Misi is a junior college transfer, who will be a three-year starter at Utah. He was a second-team All-Mountain West player in 2008 and has spent time at both tackle and end (his best position). Misi has quickness, athletic ability and good strength. His father played at Hawaii.

18. C.J. Wilson College: East Carolina Height/Weight: 6-2½, 277 Wilson is a fifth-year player, who sat out in 2005 while completing his eligibility requirements. He will be a four-year starter at defensive end and was a first-team All-Conference USA player in 2008. Wilson is a pass rusher with good speed and burst off the ball. He also has good strength and athleticism.

19. Doug Pilcher College: Illinois Height/Weight: 6-4½, 260 Pilcher is a fifth-year player with good athletic ability. He has started 24 games over the past two years at defensive end and is very smart, hard-working and willing to compete. Pilcher may be better as an offensive tackle.

20. Rahim Alem College: LSU Height/Weight: 6-2½, 255 Alem is a fifth-year player, who is a pass rush specialist for the Tigers. He had eight sacks in 2008. Alem legally changed his name in 2006 from his given name of Alfred Jones Jr. His father played defensive end at Tulane and his brother plays safety for LSU. He has quickness off the ball, plus good strength and athletic ability.

21. Junior Galette College: Temple Height/Weight: 6-2, 245 Galette played and started nine games as a true freshman in 2006 as a strong-side linebacker. Born in Haiti, he played defensive end the past two seasons and has 15 sacks over that span. Galette was injured and missed three games at the end of last season. He has the speed and quickness to rush the passer to go with the athletic ability to play in space. He is a young player (21) with some upside.